Pediatric Options
Dr. Santiago utilizes 3D imaging, digital impressions, photographs, and detailed data from your examination to develop the best appliance for your child and strategically plan the amount of expansion / dimension of growth needed based on the structural needs of the jaws.
The Nuvola System
A cranial, functional, and structural approach to growing healthy faces from Rome, Italy.
Uniquely designed clear aligners that have functional as well as postural components built into each aligner. The result growth guidance, optimized function, and optimal cranial alignment and posture.
Very well accepted by children, including kids with sensory issues, processing disorders, and those that need gentle touch.
Cemented Expanders
The workhorses of expansion.
Excellent palatal and nasal floor development.
Can be used with a reverse pull facemask to correct underbites.
Well-tolerated by children.
Age limit: as long as the patient can sit comfortably for a digital impression, we can proceed. The youngest thus far is 2.5yrs.
As the upper jaw is limited in its growth potential by age 8, this is the very upper limit that AirSync will recommend a cemented expander.
Photo courtesy of Dr. Marianna Evans
Skeletal Expansion
Why recommend a skeletal expander for an older child, pre-teen, or teenager?
The older the child, the less skeletal growth can be achieved with a cemented expander. Half of the expansion will be skeletal and half will be dental. The dental expansion is usually lost within 5 years.
Skeletal expansion is stable, with minimal relapse.
The sicker the child (the worse the breathing and sleep quality), the greater the recommendation to get the most optimal anatomy.
Skeletal expanders are fantastic for correcting underbites, moving/growing the jaw forward, and can be used for complex movements.
The only viable options for a skeletal expander (aka a MARPE) are the Partners Dental Lab or TADMAN custom. MSEs are NOT an option in the modern digital world.
